Brake for automobiles.



m mm

R. H. YOUNG.

BRAKE FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 6.1915.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI' I.

R. H. YOUNG.

BRAKE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6.1915.

Patented Aug. .29, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

RAY H. YOUNG, 01 DENVER, COLORADO.

BRAKE ron AUTOMOBILES.

enace.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Application filed July 6, 1915. Serial No. 38,092.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RAY H. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brakes for 'Automobiles; and I do declare-the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements inbrakes adapted to be applied to the front wheels of automobiles.

In my present improvement -the front wheels of the machine are equipped with drums formed by enlarging the plates heretofore formed upon the hubs of these wheels, and then forming a rim or flange extending at right angles to the outer edge of the hub plate and being of sufficient width to form a braking surface for a spring band which constitutes the brake shoe, the said band be ing mounted on an interiorly located auxiliary plate which is spaced from the hub plate and connected with the body of the spindle, its inner edge being arranged in 7 close proximity to the cylindrical portion of the hub extending inwardly from the. aforesaid hub plate. This spindle body is vertically disposed with reference to the spindle proper, and consequently the auxiliary plate which is secured to the spindle body is .connected with the wheel in such a manner as to conform to the movement necessary in making turns as required in machines of this character. As specifically disclosed, each of the brake shoes consists of a divided spring band which is normally free from the adjacent surface of the drum. The extremities of the band are spaced to receive a cam member which when in its normal position, allows the shoe to remain free from the drum. However, whenit is desired to operate the brakes of the machine, this cam is actuated to further separate the extremities of the shoe, whereby the outer surface of the latter isforced outwardly against the drum circumferentially, thus producing-the necessary friction for braking purposes.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the portion of the wheel beyond the hub being mainly broken away. Fig; 3 is a section taken through the brake drum of one of the front wheels of the machine illustrating my improvement, the section being taken on the hne 3-3, Fig. 2, looking toward the left. It 1s assumed that Fig. 2, illustrates the right hand front wheel to a person standing in front of the machine and facing toward the latter. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 44, Fig. 1, looking forwardly.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

' Let the numeral 5 designate the chassis of an automobile; 6 the front axle; .7 the front wheels and 8 the controller shaft with which the foot pedal'9 is connected through the medium of a link 10 connected with a crank arm 12 fast on the controller shaft, the latter being also equipped with two depending crank arms 13. The pedal 9 is also connected with the transmission mechanism (not shown) for applying the brake in the usual manner.

The crank arms 13 have their lower extremities perforated to receive the rear extremities of rods 17 which slidably engage the crank arms, spiral springs 15 being applied to the said rods in the rear of the crank arms, the forward extremity of each spring engaging the corresponding crank arm while its rear extremity engages a washer 14held in place by a stop nut 4 applied to the rear extremity of the rod. When the brake is applied to the front wheels the controller shaft 8 is actuated to move the rods 17 rearwardly or in the direction of the arrows c. The forward extremities of these rods 17 are connected as shown at 19 by means of universal joints 3 with the rear extremitiesof links 2 whose forward extremities are pivotally connected as shown at 1 with crank arms 20 which are respectively connected with cams 21 which as illustrated in the drawing'are approximately elliptical in shape, each 'of these cams being located between the reinforced extremities 22'of a brake shoe 23 composed ofa circular-spring having an inwardly extending circumferential rib or web A. The extremities of these springs on opposite sides of the cam are equipped with inwardly projecting lugs B which are connected by means of a spiral spring C whereby the shoe '23 is given additional tension. This brake shoe 23 is normally, or when the cam is in the position shown in Fig. 3, slightly spaced as shown at 24 from the inner face 25 of a drum 26. Since the construction of the brake mechanism mounted on each of the front wheels is substantially identical, the description ofone set of mechanism will be sufl'icient.

The drum 26 consists of a flange extending inwardly from the outer extremity of a plate 27 which extends outwardly, from the hub casting 28. In constructing my improvement, the normal size of this plate which in the ordinary construction is employed in connection with bolts 29 for securing the spokes 30 in place, is enlarged somewhat and the flange 26 is formed thereon and consti tutes'the brake drum or housing foruse in connection with each front wheel of the machine. Spaced lnwa-rdly from this hub plate is an auxiliary plate 31 which is secured as shown at 32 and 33 to the spindle body 34 at each extremity of the front axle 6, this con nection being made by means'of U-shape clips D whose closed portions pass around the body 34 of'the spindle, and'whose extremities pass through perforations formed in the plate 31 and are secured by applying nuts E to their extremities, the auxiliary plate 31 being spaced from the hub spindle by means of spokes F. The outer edge of this auxiliary plate is close to, but not in.

contact with the adjacent inner surface of the brake drum or housing 26.

Midway between the extremities of the circular spring brake shoe 23, the latter is reinforced as shown at 36, and a bow shaped spring G has itsextremities connected with the shoe as shown at H on opposite sides ofv the reinforcement. This reinforcement is of sufficient thickness to receive a bolt or cap screw 38 which ispassed through a perforation 39formed in the auxiliary plate.

By virtue of this construction, the brake shoe of each front wheel is securely mounted on the auxiliary plate,'the latter in turn being securely connected with the spindle body through which the spindle bolt 40 passes, the said bolt forming the connection between each spindle and the adjacent extremity of the front axle of the machine in the usual manner. The reinforcements 22 located at the extremities of the brake shoe, may be formed in any suitable manner. As illustrated in the drawing they are formed in tegral with the brake shoe, their free extremities'being flush with the extremities of the brake shoe proper, and are of sufiicient area for engagement with the elliptical cam 21 when the latter is actuated for braking purposes.

From the foregoing descriptionthe use and operation of my improved brake will be readily understood. By pressing upon the foot pedal 9, the controller shaft 8 will be fllgiven a partial rotation or actuated to a su cient degree to apply the brakes to the front wheels. As this foot pedal is operated the rods 17 are moved rearwardly and this action serves through the medium of the universal joints 3, the links 2 and the crank arms 20, to thrown the elliptical cams 21 into suchposition as to increase the space between the reinforced extremities of each brake shoe, to a suflicient degree to force the outer surfaces of these shoes into contact with the inner surfaces of the drums or brake housings 26. v

Furthermore, this brake mechanism will not interfere with the steering of the front wheels since the universal joints 3 will permit the wheels to be turned in either direction and the rods 17 are allowed suflicient play at their rear extremities to permit any longitudinal movement that'may be necessary to the same.-

Having thus described my invention what I-claim is,-

A brake for automobiles, comprising in combination with the front axle, a spindle carried by the axle, a wheel mounted upon the spindle, a brake housing carried by the said wheel, the brake shoe supported by the said spindle, a cam engaging the brake shoe, and means for operating the cam comprising a crank arm connected with the latter, a link attached to the said crank arm, a rod pivotally connected with the link, a controller shaft mounted in the'frame of the machine, a crank arm secured to said controller shaft, said rod adapted to pass through andbeyond the last named crank arm, a stop mounted upon the rear extremity of the rod, and a spring surrounding the latter and located between the said last named crank arm and the stop, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof'I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' RAY H. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN,

A. EBERT OBRIEN. 

